Mortuary and Burial Services_Rusk State Hospital

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for mortuary and burial services specifically for Rusk State Hospital, located in Rusk, Texas. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide comprehensive funeral services including transportation of deceased individuals, provision of caskets or urns, embalming services, graveside services, and crematory services. Bidders must be licensed Texas Funeral Service Commission funeral directors and embalmers located within 30 miles of Rusk State Hospital. Key qualifications include maintaining 24-hour contact availability, responding to service calls within four hours, passing background checks, and maintaining comprehensive insurance coverage including professional liability. The solicitation (HHS0016355v2) has a bid submission deadline of August 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM, with questions due by August 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM and agency responses to be posted by August 12, 2025. The initial contract term is set for September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2028, with potential for a one-year extension, and evaluation will be based on flat rates for various funeral service components.

The contract has specific compliance requirements including E-Verify usage, cybersecurity training, and adherence to Texas preference programs. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the solicitation emphasizes HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) participation goals where applicable. The historical spend for this contract is $520.00 for the period September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024, though the state guarantees no specific volume or compensation. Contractors must provide services on an as-needed, case-by-case basis, with HHSC coordinating services and serving as the payer of last resort when deceased trust funds are insufficient. The procurement includes strict requirements around data protection, with potential contract termination for non-compliance, and mandates comprehensive documentation including solicitation affirmations, reference qualifications, and detailed pricing sheets. Bidders must submit multiple mandatory attachments and demonstrate operational capacity, financial capability, and relevant industry experience to be considered for the contract.